rubber bands?

[stoneeater]

Went to the local chicken swap yesterday and my wife picked up a silkie. They also gave us a freebie mixed breed. So now the 2 freinds are hanging out and chasing bugs and I noticed that they both have a green rubber band on their right leg. Does this mean something important, or is this just a way to "brand" the chicken for ownership? The legbands I've seen on here look like wide flat bands. These look like, well, rubber bands.
I can just remove it correct?

 

[7L Farm]

I wouldn't see why not.

 

[crtrlovr]

I'd carefully snip them off with fingernail clippers or manicure scissors. If you want to band them, you can use the colored zip ties -- they can be left loose enough for plenty of growing room, yet not so loose that the foot gets entangled / out of position trapped in them. Just monitor them as the chicken grows to make sure they can turn freely on the leg.

 

[Imp]

Could they be plastic spiral leg bands?

Imp

 

[stoneeater]

Quote:
I don't know. What does one look like?

These are just green and small and round like the little bands they gave you for your braces for your teeth.

I just wanted to make sure it wasn't some medical thing that I just didn't know about yet. Just have to get my wife out to help me snip. Thanks.

 

[airmechreed]

Quote:
Be careful I heard that these rubber bands hold the whole chicken together.....LOL JK take it off.

 

[naughtyhens]

I have some of these bands I bought on eBay. They do look like the old elastics from braces in the seventies.

I would say that the person selling these chicks used the bands to keep track of how old they are or what breed they are if different chicks look a lot alike. I think you probably want to take them off as they will outgrow them soon. They are much stretchier than they look so you might be able to just pull them off, but I'd probably use nail scissors just to be safe. They would not make a good "brand" as they are meant to be removed. Have fun with your chicks!